Poppy Foundation brings back Paw-liday Sale in Las Vegas Nov. 21-22

The Poppy Foundation’s annual Paw-liday Sale returns to Las Vegas on Nov. 21-22 to raise money for cats with medical and other special needs. The free weekend event also gives visitors a rare chance to tour the sanctuary, meet some of the cats and shop holiday and yard-sale items.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser helps the volunteer-run Poppy Foundation cover ongoing care for cats with medical and other special needs. - The free event also opens the sanctuary to new visitors, which can build support for a nonprofit that relies on donations rather than federal funding. - The sale gives the foundation a chance to reach holiday shoppers and potential long-term supporters at the same time.

What happened: - The Poppy Foundation will hold its annual Paw-liday Sale on Nov. 21 and 22 in Las Vegas. - The event runs Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time at 3915 Helen Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89130. - Admission is free both days. - Visitors can meet some of the cats who live at the sanctuary during the sale.

The details: - The sale includes holiday items, yard-sale goods, pet supplies and clothing. - Items are a mix of new and gently used. - Shoppers can also browse kitchenware and tools. - The event features a bake sale and a raffle. - The foundation will sell its own merchandise, including the Poppy calendar. - The sanctuary is usually open by appointment, so the sale offers a rare chance for the public to visit in person. - The foundation says the money raised helps pay for veterinary exams, lab work, medication and day-to-day care supplies. - Volunteers also use the funds for ordinary operating costs such as laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. - Some cats at the sanctuary were found as strays in Las Vegas, while others came from shelters. - One cat, Charlie, arrived as an abandoned kitten, developed seizures at about four months old and now needs close monitoring and medication several times a day.

Between the lines: - The sale is more than a fundraising event. It is also a public introduction to a sanctuary that many people would otherwise never see. - The foundation’s history is tied to a cat named Poppy, a Siamese mix who needed daily medication and became a familiar presence at Bonanza Cat Hospital after a volunteer brought her in from a trailer park in 1995. - Poppy died in 2001, and the foundation was later established in her honor. - The event page on AllEvents extends the sale’s reach to people who may be looking for weekend activities rather than nonprofit events. - Supporters can also stay involved after the sale through the foundation’s Poppy Pals program, which accepts monthly or annual pledges tied to a specific cat.

What's next: - The foundation will use sale proceeds to continue daily care for cats that live at the sanctuary long term. - Anyone who wants to support the mission after the event can sponsor a cat through Poppy Pals. - The sale may also bring in new visitors and donors who first discover the sanctuary through holiday shopping.

The bottom line: - The Paw-liday Sale is both a fundraiser and an open house for a Las Vegas sanctuary that gives lifelong care to cats with special needs.